The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-10-20
An INQUIRY About EaIes

Numerous complaints have already
been made to the railroad cOmmls-
sloners by shippers that discrimina-
ton If made by the Manit oba road in
carrying wheat from different parts
of the state TO Duluth. In view Of
these charges "a comm unication, of
which the following is a copy, was
sent to Mr.. Hall on Monday:
ST.. PAUL, Oct. IL, 1851. J. Hill,
Esq, Pres. st. p. NJ. & NJ. R'y Co.,
st. Paut-Dear Sir: The attention of
this com ission has been called to
the fact that the ST. Paul, Mnnpa.
polls and Manitoba company trans
ports wheat from Breckenridge to
Duluth, a distance OF 313 miles bv
the lines of your road over which We
understand 1T is transported, for l6
cents per cWt.. while from Morehead
to Duluth, Il distance OF 800 miles the
charge is IL cents per cwt. Wheat
producers at Moofhead and vicinity
see nothing in the cost of construc-
tion or operating the line over which
grain moved from Breck enridge is
hauled (till it intersects the other
line), which iustIfes the discrimina
ton against the more northern sta
ton, and the commission, with It's
present Information, being no better
able to comprehend The problem.
asks to be better informed
The board is aware that there has
been material reduction in trans
portatiOn charges on grain between
the Red river valley and the great
lakes since the time when wheat
sold for 81 per eushel, but tins re-
duction in freights has byno means
kept pace with the reduction in
prices realized by the wheat far
mer for his grain; and. in the m can
time. the cost to the roads.of NOV
Ing the gram; has, as the COM
IN 'sson believes, materially de
creased. Railroad profit may not
be SO great as at the times
alluded to, but if their own financial
reports are to be believed their busi-
ness brings much better returns than
that of the Northwestern wheat far
mer, and we commend it the atten-
ton OF the companies whether, in
the long run, it would not be sound
financial policy for them to en-
courage the fotmer industry. and in
TACT all branches of agriculture, in
the country upon which they are de-
pendent for their dividends, even at
the risk Of temporary loss OF rcve-
nue.! is there not much reciprocity
of interest between the producers
and the transportation companies,
as to render it inevitable that one
cannot be long depressed without in
eVltably visiting some Of the con-
sequences Of its misfortunes upon
the other? And in view of this al !.
most sels.evident relation should not
the companies especially those
whose trains are burdened, alm ost
the yeay around, with the products
of the Northwest wheat fields, have
made a more liberal reduction noS
merely nominal, but so substantial
! as to have infused a real courage in
to our farmers and carried vital re.
lief to their depressed business. Aud
in this connection we should verv
much like to know whether, with
the reduced grades on the lines of
your road, and the consequent cheap
ening ut hauling heavy trains, it is
not now practicable for you to carry
wheat from the most distant cor
ners of the state, say from st.
Vincent, at the Northwest, and Pipe
stone, at the Southwest, (when your
line in that direction shall be fin
lShed) to Minneapolis or Duluth at
maximum rate of ten cents per bush
ell, and from other points at CORES
ponding rates. and still retiize fur
return for the services rendered?
The commission is OF the opinion
that this is feasible. but perhaps
have not satficlent data upon which
to predicate the conclusion, We
hope. for this Information when you
shall be heard in reply to this letter.
Very respectfully.
HORACE AUSTIN, Chairman,